Eurovision Song Contest 1956

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Eurovision Song Contest 1956
Eurovision Song Contest 1956
Dates
Finaldate 24 May 1956
Host
Venue Teatro Kursaal
Lugano, Switzerland
Presenter(s) Lohengrin Filipello
Conductor Fernando Paggi
Director Franco Marazzi
Executive supervisor Rolf Liebermann
Hostbroadcaster Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana (RTSI)
Intervalact Les Joyeux Rossignols &
Les Trois Mnestrels
Participants
Numberofentries 14 (7 countries performed 2 songs each)
Debutingcountries
Belgium
France
West Germany
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Switzerland
Vote
Votingsystem Each jury member had two votes,
only the winner was announced.
Winningsong
Switzerland
"Refrain"
Eurovision Song Contest
1957
The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the debut edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro
Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland on Thursday 24 May. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union, the
pan-European music competition was an inspiration of the Italian Sanremo Music Festival. Lohengrin Filipello
Eurovision Song Contest 1956
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hosted the first contest which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Seven countries participated, with each of
them performing two songs. Two jury members from all participating countries cast their votes in secret, based on
which song was their favourite. Lys Assia won the contest for the host country Switzerland with the song "Refrain".
This first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest included few procedures that were not repeated in any subsequent
edition: Two songs for each country, secret voting, double voting of one country on behalf of another, optional
inclusion of the jury members' own represented country in their voting, only "Grand Prix" title reception for the
winner, and a single male presenter to host the show. The other Contests include: One song for each country,
scoreboard display, jury panel from each country, disqualification of the juries' own country from their voting,
material award, and a single or additional female presenter.
History
Main article: History of the Eurovision Song Contest
During a meeting in Monaco in 1955, members of the European Broadcasting Union discussed ideas to organise a
pan-European music competition, taking inspiration from the Italian Sanremo Music Festival. From that meeting, the
concept of the Eurovision Song Contest was born. A decision was reached to hold the first ever contest in the Swiss
resort of Lugano the following year.
Location
Location of the host city in Switzerland.
For more details on the host city, see Lugano.
The chosen venue for the contest was the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, a city in the south of Switzerland, in the
Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy. Lugano, which lies on Lake Lugano, is the 9th largest city of
Switzerland by population and the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy. It is known for its abundance of
European culture and friendly hospitality. That also came out compatible to the event being inspired by the Italian
music festival, as well as that the contest was hosted in Italian.
After an influx of capital from Italy from 1945 to well into the 1960s, Lugano grew to become the third largest
financial centre in Switzerland. The city also experienced an improvement in transportation infrastructure in the first
half of the 20th century. That, together with an increase in hotels, reflected the city's desire to offer better
accommodations for tourists.
Eurovision Song Contest 1956
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Format
The first programme was hosted by Lohengrin Filipello, which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Although it was mainly a radio programme, there were cameras in the studio for the benefit of the few Europeans
who possessed a television.
Only solo artists were allowed to enter the contest, and their songs were not to exceed three and a half minutes in
length, and were accompanied by a 24-musician orchestra, which was led by Fernando Paggi. The interval act,
whistling by the Joyeux Rossignols, had to be extended due to a delay in the voting procedure. It had been strongly
recommended that each participating country have a preliminary national song contest.
Voting controversy
Further information: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest
Two jury members from all participating countries travelled to Lugano to cast their vote on the songs in secret,
although the jury members from Luxembourg were unable to make it to Lugano. The voting system at this Contest
allowed juries to vote for any competing song, including those of their own country. Additionally, the Swiss jury was
allowed by the EBU to vote on behalf of the Luxembourg delegation. This system was never repeated.
Lost tapes
While the contest was shown and recorded for television broadcasting in certain European countries (as television
sets were somewhat uncommon still at this time), no copies have survived, with the exception of Lys Assia's repeat
performance at the end of the contest. It is one of only two contests to not have survived completely, along with the
1964 contest (of which the tapes were destroyed in a fire).
Participating countries
Further information: List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Seven countries participated in the first ever contest, each were represented with two songs. Three more countries,
Austria, Denmark, and United Kingdom were also expected to take part in the contest, but they missed the
submission deadline and therefore could not take part. The BBC's Festival of British Popular Song, which had been
intended to choose the United Kingdom entry, was in the end not held until after the Eurovision contest.
Conductors
Each performance had a conductor who maestro the orchestra. The conductors listed conducted both performances
for the indicated countries.
Netherlands - Fernando Paggi
Switzerland - Fernando Paggi
Belgium - Lo Souris
Germany - Fernando Paggi
France - Franck Pourcel
Luxembourg - Jacques Lassry
Italy - Gian Stellari
Eurovision Song Contest 1956
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Results
Except for the winning song, the results have never been published. Simon Barclay's book The Complete and
Independent Guide to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 includes a table with what appears to be the results, but the
author does not give a source and under the chart he writes that "the votes awarded have never been disclosed."
Draw Country Language Artist Song English translation Place
01
Netherlands
Dutch Jetty Paerl "De vogels van Holland" The Birds of Holland 2
02
Switzerland
German Lys Assia "Das alte Karussell" The Old Carousel 2
03
Belgium
French Fud Leclerc "Messieurs les noys de la Seine" The Drowned Gentlemen of the
Seine
2
04 Germany German Walter Andreas
Schwarz
"Im Wartesaal zum groen
Glck"
In The Good Luck Waiting Room 2
05
France
French Math Altry "Le temps perdu" Lost Time 2
06 Luxembourg French Michle Arnaud "Ne crois pas" Do Not Believe 2
07
Italy
Italian Franca Raimondi "Aprite le finestre" Open the Windows 2
08
Netherlands
Dutch Corry Brokken "Voorgoed voorbij" Over Forever 2
09
Switzerland
French Lys Assia "Refrain" Chorus 1
10
Belgium
French Mony Marc "Le plus beau jour de ma vie" The Most Beautiful Day of my Life 2
11 Germany German Freddy Quinn "So geht das jede Nacht" That's How It Is Every Night 2
12
France
French Dany Dauberson "Il est l" He Is Here 2
13 Luxembourg French Michle Arnaud "Les amants de minuit" The Lovers of Midnight 2
14
Italy
Italian Tonina Torrielli "Amami se vuoi" Love Me If You Want 2
International broadcasts
The participating national broadcasters sent commentators to the contest, in order to provide coverage of the contest
in their own native language. Details of the commentators and the broadcasting station for which they represented
are shown in the table below.
Netherlands - Piet te Nuyl (NTS)
Switzerland - Georges Hardy (TSR)
Belgium - Janine Lambotte (INR), Nand Baert (NIR)
Germany - Wolf Mittler (Deutsches Fernsehen)
France - Michle Rebel (RTF)
Luxembourg - Jacques Navadic (Tl-Luxembourg)
Italy - Franco Marazzi (Programma Nazionale)
Austria (non-participating country) - Wolf Mittler (ORF)
Denmark (non-participating country) - Gunnar Hansen (Statsradiofonien TV)
United Kingdom (non-participating country) - Wilfred Thomas (BBC Television Service)
Eurovision Song Contest 1956
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References
External links
Official website (http:/ / www. eurovision. tv/ )
Listen to the whole 1956 contest (http:/ / video. google. com/ videoplay?docid=8794179967207131884)
Coordinates: 4600N 857E (http:/ / tools. wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack.
php?pagename=Eurovision_Song_Contest_1956& params=46_00_N_8_57_E_source:kolossus-ptwiki)
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Eurovision Song Contest 1956 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=617086824 Contributors: 205ywmpq, Afasmit, After Midnight, Akerans, AlisonW, Ams80, Andy, Athalis,
AxG, Bearcat, Bensin, BigHaz, Birger Fricke, Bobo192, Bryan Derksen, Carlos MS, Cesare '68, Cexycy, Clausule, D.M. from Ukraine, Danyzack, Delgadoloayza, Dhum Dhum, Dinsdagskind,
DitzyNizzy, Doco, Dominic, Donikanuhiu, Ebineibgheniobg, Edokter, Eurowizion, Evilperson 20, Favonian, Fernbom2, Fonzy, Fred Bradstadt, Fredrik, Frietjes, Fryede, Future Perfect at
Sunrise, Goldddfish, Grk1011, Harry the Dirty Dog, Hede2000, Hugo999, IMSoP, ISkoy, Iliank, Imran, In ictu oculi, J 1982, Jess Cully, Jimmy Slade, JohnOwens, KF, KRBN, Kanabekobaton,
Kapitan110295, Karlwhen, Koxinga, Lilduff90, Malta1978, Marbe166, Markeandrews, Mb731, Mibblepedia, Mike22r, Mn extra, Movedgood, Mpt, Mr. Gerbear, MrX237, Mrluke485,
Mumi.mumi, NorveDomerich, Owlbuster, Paul G 63, Peeperman, Pete Davis, Piccadilly Sirkus, Pink Evolution, QDK01, Ramorosi, Responsible?, Rich Farmbrough, Rredwell, Sannse, Scipius,
ScudLee, Shawn Pickrell, Sims2aholic8, Sjc07, Sukbhirsinghsangha, TVArchivistUK, Tassedethe, Template namespace initialisation script, Ulric1313, Unknown user, Vattuman, Vivaelcelta,
Waterloo1974, Wesley Mouse, Wik, YellowMonkey, Z da Silva, 90 , anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:ESC 1956 logo.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:ESC_1956_logo.png License: unknown Contributors: European Broadcasting Union
File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Bean49, Cathy Richards, David
Descamps, Dbenbenn, Denelson83, Evanc0912, Fry1989, Gabriel trzy, Howcome, IvanOS, Mimich, Ms2ger, Nightstallion, Oreo Priest, Pitke, Ricordisamoa, Rocket000, Rodejong, SiBr4, Sir
Iain, ThomasPusch, Warddr, Zscout370, 10 anonymous edits
File:Flag of France.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_France.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie
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File:Flag of Italy.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Italy.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie
File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:SKopp
File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Zscout370
File:Flag of Switzerland.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Switzerland.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Marc Mongenet Credits: User:-xfi-
User:Zscout370
file:Wiki Eurovision Heart (Infobox).svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wiki_Eurovision_Heart_(Infobox).svg License: GNU Free Documentation License
Contributors: Athaenara, AxG, CT Cooper, Cathy Richards, FSV, Fry1989, Heb, KriFFek, Orange-kun, Sarang, 1 anonymous edits
File:Switzerland location map.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Switzerland_location_map.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors:
Lukasb1992, Maoman, NordNordWest, Sting, Wikisoft*, 1 anonymous edits
File:Flag of Austria.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Austria.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:SKopp
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Denmark.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Madden
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie, Good
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